How to Change the Order of Blog Posts on Shopify

Ever found yourself wanting to change the order of blog posts on Shopify but felt stuck on how to do it? You're not alone, and luckily, it's not as tricky as it might seem at first glance. Whether you want to feature your latest content or arrange posts to align with a marketing campaign, gaining control over your blog's order can make a big difference in how visitors engage with your site.

In this article, we'll walk through the steps you need to take to rearrange your Shopify blog posts. We'll cover various methods, from simple adjustments to more advanced techniques, ensuring you have the tools needed to curate your blog exactly how you want it.

Why Change the Order of Blog Posts?

Before we get into the how, let's talk about the why. Why would you want to change the order of your blog posts? Well, there are a few compelling reasons:

• Highlight Recent Content: Many readers look for fresh content first, so placing newer posts at the top can increase engagement.
• Feature Special Posts: Maybe there's a post that's performing exceptionally well or ties into a current campaign. Moving it up can drive more traffic.
• Seasonal or Thematic Arrangement: Sometimes, arranging posts to fit a theme or season can create a more cohesive reading experience.

Understanding your goals for your blog can help you decide how best to order your content.

The Default Shopify Blog Order

By default, Shopify arranges blog posts in reverse chronological order, meaning the newest posts appear first. This makes sense for most situations because it keeps your content fresh and up-to-date. However, this setup isn't always ideal, especially if you want certain evergreen content to shine or highlight specific posts for promotional reasons.

While Shopify doesn't offer a direct, built-in option to reorder blog posts like some other blogging platforms, there are workarounds. We'll explore a few different methods, ranging from easy tweaks to more technical solutions. Don't worry if you're not a tech wizard—many of these methods are approachable even for beginners.

Method 1: Adjusting Publish Dates

One of the simplest ways to change the order of your blog posts is by manipulating their publish dates. Since Shopify orders posts based on when they were published, adjusting these dates will rearrange the order:

1. Navigate to your Shopify admin dashboard.
2. Click on Online Store and then Blog Posts.
3. Select the post you want to move.
4. Change the publish date to a more recent date to move it up or an older date to push it down.
5. Save your changes.

This method is straightforward but might not be ideal if you're keen on keeping accurate publish dates for historical or SEO purposes. Remember, accurate dates can help with transparency and trust with your audience. So, while this method is easy, weigh the pros and cons before proceeding.

Method 2: Using Tags and Categories

Tags and categories aren't just for organizing content; they can also help manipulate how content is displayed. By creating a custom collection of blog posts using specific tags or categories, you can control the order in which they appear:

1. Assign specific tags to the posts you want to rearrange. For instance, use a tag like "featured" for posts you want to highlight.
2. Create a new page or section on your site that showcases posts with this tag.
3. Use Shopify's built-in sorting options to arrange these posts manually.

This method doesn't reorder posts on your main blog page but allows you to create sections of content that can be displayed in any order you choose. It's a great way to highlight particular themes or promotions.

Method 3: Editing the Shopify Theme Code

For those who are comfortable getting their hands dirty with a bit of code, you can modify your Shopify theme to change the order of blog posts. This method gives you more control but requires some familiarity with Liquid, Shopify's templating language:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store and then Themes.
2. Click Actions and select Edit Code.
3. In the Templates folder, open the file for your blog page (usually named `blog.liquid`).
4. Look for the line of code that handles the post order. It might look something like this:

{% for article in blog.articles %}


To change the order, you could add additional parameters or logic. For example, reversing the order:

{% for article in blog.articles reversed %}


Be careful when editing theme code, as mistakes can affect your blog's appearance or functionality. Always back up your theme before making changes.

Method 4: Using Shopify Apps

There are various Shopify apps designed to extend the platform's functionality, including apps that allow more flexible blog post ordering. These apps often provide a user-friendly interface to drag and drop posts into your desired order:

• Blog Studio: A popular app that not only allows easy post reordering but also offers additional design features.
• Shogun Page Builder: While primarily a page builder, it offers robust blog management features, including sorting options.

These apps can be a great solution if you're looking for more than just order changes, as they often come with additional features for enhancing your entire blog.

Method 5: Creating a Custom Page for Highlighted Posts

If you're more interested in showcasing certain posts rather than changing the entire blog order, consider creating a custom page that highlights specific content:

1. Create a new page in Shopify.
2. Manually add links and excerpts of the posts you want to feature.
3. Organize them in the order you prefer.
4. Link this page prominently on your site to guide visitors to your highlighted content.

This workaround doesn't change the order on your main blog page but allows you to create a curated experience for your visitors, directing them to the content you think matters most.

Method 6: Leveraging SEO to Manage Content Visibility

While not directly about reordering, optimizing your content for SEO can affect which posts get seen first by visitors arriving from search engines. Here's how you can use SEO to manage your blog post visibility:

• Optimize Titles and Descriptions: Ensure your most important posts have compelling titles and meta descriptions.
• Utilize Internal Linking: Link strategically to your key posts within other content to drive traffic.
• Focus on Keywords: Use relevant keywords that align with your audience's search habits.

While this method doesn't rearrange your posts on the blog page itself, it influences how visitors interact with your content, potentially guiding them towards the posts you want them to see.

Method 7: Using Liquid Logic for Conditional Display

If you're comfortable with a bit of coding, using Liquid logic can conditionally display posts based on certain criteria. This approach allows for a more dynamic blog experience:

1. Edit your theme's `blog.liquid` file as described in the coding section above.
2. Implement Liquid conditions to filter or prioritize certain posts. For instance:

{% for article in blog.articles %}
{% if article.tags contains 'featured' %}

{% endif %}
{% endfor %}


This code snippet demonstrates how you might prioritize posts with a specific tag, ensuring certain content is always front and center.

Method 8: Understanding the Benefits of a Consistent Blog Order

While changing the order of posts can be beneficial, it's also important to recognize the advantages of maintaining a consistent order. Regular readers may appreciate knowing where to find the latest content, and a predictable structure can enhance user experience.

Consistency can also aid in building your brand's voice and narrative. By following a chronological order, you allow readers to follow your brand's journey over time, understanding developments and changes as they happen. Weigh these factors when deciding how often to reorder your posts.

Final Thoughts

We've covered a lot of ground on how to change the order of blog posts on Shopify, from adjusting publish dates to using apps and coding solutions. Each method has its perks, so consider what aligns best with your needs and technical comfort level.

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